Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that at talks with ICRC President Peter Maurer he had discussed the use of civilians as human shields by the Kyiv authorities and nationalists.

“Kyiv authorities and nationalists controlling various localities are trying to prevent the free exodus of civilians, trying to use them as human shields, that they deploy heavy arms to city neighborhoods and take other action that is directly at variance with international humanitarian law. The talks had also focused on the humanitarian needs of the population in the crisis around Ukraine”, - said Lavrov.

He said that the Russian side had listened to recommendations from ICRC partners as to the solutions they deem important to address more efficiently the problems of humanitarian access, the functioning of humanitarian corridors.

“Mr. Maurer prepared these recommendations following his trip to Kyiv. We welcomed the readiness of the Red Cross to channel the available resources to help the people in need in Ukraine, the Donetsk and Lugansk”, - Lavrov added.